liNKCity
FAQ

» What are Peer to Peer (P2P) file sharing services?

Peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing services are a popular tool that enables people to share media files such as music, movies, or video games with their peers. The power and popularity of these free services lie in the ease with which this type of sharing is done — by enabling users to connect to a network where they can access shared files residing on the computers that are part of the network. Peer to peer networks are a revolutionary way of distributing your own personal files like photos or songs. But while there are legal and safe ways to use P2P networks, you may want to consider the following risks before using them.

 

Know the Risks – There are two categories of risks to consider when using P2P services: the content that can be accessed and the security of the service itself.

 

Content Issues – Most of the public discussion and concerns about P2P services are centered on the legal issues, namely copyright infringement and the age-appropriateness of the media being shared (pornography or violent games). The files people share may be pirated material and the distribution of these files may be illegal. A person may or may not be knowingly engaging in illegal behavior. Regardless, they may put themselves or others at risk of breaking the law. Following are questions to consider when using a file-sharing service:Is the file I want to access really what its name indicates? Sometimes files available through P2P sharing sites have names that are deceptive and even files named ‘Winnie the Pooh’ or ‘Pokemon’ have been found to contain pornography. Is the file a legal copy of a CD, DVD, or video game? While it may not be easy to determine whether a file has been pirated, members may be sharing files they know have been illegally copied. Does the file have limits on distribution? e.g. You can make a copy of it, but only for yourself; you cannot make a copy for someone else. If you are uncertain about the answers to any of the above questions, it is best not to download or share the file.

 

Security Issues – File-sharing services have also increasingly become a destination for cybercriminals to fool people into downloading fake or malicious software, using both overt and covert techniques. Be aware of offers for discounted security software orlinks to third-party sites with “deals” as these may be techniques designed to trick you into downloading bad things that can cause harm later, a tactic known as “social engineering”. Likewise, you may leave your computer vulnerable due to the openness of P2P networks. Cyber-criminals drop copies of malicious software into shared folders of popular P2P file-sharing applications, using enticing names for the software so that as many people as possible will download it. Once a computer has been infected with this kind of software, any number of things can happen to it. Depending on the intent of the cyber-criminal, they can steal information using methods such as capturing screenshots while the computer is in use (which may contain personal information) and sending that information back to the criminal.

 

Be Prepared – A combination of awareness of what is legal and what isn’t and proper use of the file-sharing service and security technology can help you safely and securely enjoy sharing your favorite forms of media, such as movies, music or video games with your friends or family using P2P services.

 

The proceeding information is from Internet Safety for Kids & Families – Safety Tips for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) File-sharing Services by Trend Micro, Inc. and is reprinted with their permission.  Links to more tips from Trend Micro, Inc., and their partners on enjoying the benefits of file-sharing services as well as other internet related safety tips and advice can be found on the liNKCity website (www.linkcity.org). The tips and advice are aimed at parents and children, but the information is very useful for and applicable to all internet users.

» How do I decide which business package is right for my business?

There are a variety of factors that determine the best package available for your company.  Issues such as web hosting, remote access, file transfer and VOIP will all play an important role in deciding on the optimum package for your office.  Please call the liNKCity office to discuss your business needs so that a tailored solution can be made.

» Does liNKCity offer static IP addresses?

Static IP addresses are only available through a business package.  liNKCity will provide three static IP addresses per business account.  Additional IP addresses can be purchased if required.  liNKCity recommends that if you need additional IP address space, it is requested at the scheduling of installation.  This will prevent downtime in the provisioning process.  There is an assessment of $250 for additional IP address block request.

» How can I access newsgroups?

liNKCity does not offer access to a local usenet newsgroup server. If you wish to use newsgroups you can visit: http://groups.google.com. You can also buy access to newsgroup servers using Powerusenet: http://www.powerusenet.com

» Does liNKCity block any web traffic or web sites?

No. If you would like to block any traffic or sites, there are security measures you can take with multiple software programs available on the market. If you are concerned about parental control, please visit www.safekids.com

» Does liNKCity provide Anti-Virus Software?

liNKCity email servers run Anti-Virus software to protect incoming emails that could be harmful to your computer. However, this is only one form of protection as liNKCity does not provide antivirus software for your computer itself. It is highly recommended that if your computer does not currently have anti-virus software installed, that you install a form of anti-virus software to protect your computer and data.

Symantec
mcafee
AVG

» How do I search for something on the Internet?

Web search engines are designed to search information found on the World Wide Web. If you would like to search the internet on a particular subject, you can use a search engine to facilitate the process. Search engines:

google
yahoo
MSN
dogpile

» What is a Web Browser?

A Web Browser is a piece of software that allows a user to view web pages and interact with content and media located on the world wide web and/or network. The most common way to interact on the internet is through your web browser. If you are using a Microsoft Windows based computer, you already have a web browser installed by default named Internet Explorer or IE for short. Other web browsers can be downloaded and used such as Mozilla Firefox, AOL Explorer and Opera.

mozilla Firefox
AOL
Opera

» Can I use AOL with liNKCity?

Yes!  AOL is now independent of your internet connection.  Your AOL software will utilize the high speed liNKCity network connection so that your user experience is the same with AOL only FASTER!

» Can I use 3rd party email services such as Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail?

Yes! 3rd party email services from MSN, Google and Yahoo mail work independently and seamlessly. Please note, if you encounter any issues with 3rd party email providers, troubleshooting will need to be directed to the provider you are using. Free email services:

mail.yahoo.com

mail.google.com

www.hotmail.com

» How do I check my email away from home?

You can access your liNKCity email away from home by using WebMail. If you are connected to the internet, point your web browser to:

http://mail.linkcity.org

You will arrive at a login page where you must enter your username and password to access your email.

» Can I change my email address?

Master email addresses can be changed.  Existing mail in the account will be lost if the master address is changed. It is recommended that if you would like a different email address that you create a sub account or request your personalized email address prior to installation of service.  Email sub accounts can be created under the Options/User Administration link in the WebMail application ( http://mail.linkcity.org ).

» What is my email address and/or password?

Your email address and password will be on documentation given to you upon completion of your installation by a liNKCity technician.  If you have forgot your email address or password and cannot find the documentation, please call the liNKCity offices at (816)412-7990.

» How many Dynamic IP addresses do I get with a residential account?

The current amount of available IP leases per account is two.  Please call the liNKCity offices if more are required.

» Does liNKCity offer residential static IP addresses?

Static IP addresses are only available through a business package.  Residential account’s IP addresses are distributed through DHCP with two addresses leased per connection.  If more IP address leases are required, please contact the liNKCity office.

» How does liNKCity internet speeds compare to other services?

The first step is to understand upstream and downstream speed.  Upstream speed is the rate at which your computer has available to send information and content to a destination.  An example would be sending family photos from your computer connected to liNKCity to a relative in another state.Downstream speed is the rate at which your computer has available to download information or content from a network source.  An example would be downloading a song or movie on your computer from a website.liNKCity upstream and downstream speeds are synchronous in that the service level you purchase is the same speed downstream AND upstream.  Other providers do NOT offer synchronous speeds in that they may give you a large downstream rate but give you a very small upstream rate.

» How do I decide what service level is right for me?

This depends on how much you use to how much you rely on the internet. If you are the occasional internet user, using it once or twice a week to view a couple of websites and send the occasional email, the lighter packages are more applicable to you. If you frequent the internet, and use it a primary source of news, shopping and communications, the middle range levels were designed with you in mind.If you are a gamer or use the internet for web applications and content, you want the fastest speed you can get. At liNKCity you can go as fast as you want! For service levels and rates, please see the residential price page.

» How will I be billed?

As a liNKCity customer, your monthly bill will be included on your water bill from the city of North Kansas City. If you do not have a water account will be set up to bill the internet alone. The billing dates listed on the bill are for the water service only. liNKCity bills for service from teh first of the month through the last day of the month.

See an example of a residential bill which includes both water and internet.

» Can I use the telephone and liNKCity internet service at the same time?

Yes!  liNKCity internet service is a totally separate communications line from your existing phone line.

» Are there any contracts to use liNKCity?

No!  You are free to upgrade, downgrade, add or drop services without the hassle of any contracts.  However, connections that are disconnected are subject to an installation fee upon reconnecting.

» How do I change my service level?

Service levels can be changed by calling the liNKCity office at (816) 412-7990 and can generally be changed in less than an hour.  There is no fee associated with changes in service levels.

» How long does it take to install liNKCity internet services?

A: This is a three part answer. The first step is to ascertain how much installation work will be required. If the property already has liNKCity equipment installed (see NID) and the location of the network drop is acceptable, the service will just need to be provisioned by a liNKCity technician. This can usually be accomplished in a couple of hours.
If the location of the network drop needs to be moved into another room, this will require a set installation time and date. Typically moving a network drop to another room will take the majority of a morning or afternoon appointment (4 hours). The customer will need to be onsite as the liNKCity technician will need access to the property. An example of this type of installation is if you are a new resident in NKC and the previous resident was using liNKCity services.

The property does not have liNKCity equipment installed but has an orange conduit stub on the perimeter of the structure. This type of installation will typically require a full day installation appointment as the liNKCity technicians will install the necessary device equipment, provision, and verify operation. This installation will require the customer to be onsite as the technicians will need access to the property.

The property does not have liNKCity equipment installed and does not have an orange conduit stub on the perimeter of the building. This type of installation will require the most amount of time to complete. Please call in advance as this install will typically require two to three weeks to complete. This installation will be the same as the above installation with the addition of a construction phase. In the construction phase, a conduit will be buried from the structure to one of liNKCity’s local underground vaults.

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